Reflection: Mark 1:21-28

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time – Mark 1:21-28

Today Jesus and His disciples are in Capernaum.  As was His custom, Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach.   His listeners were amazed at his teaching.   Jesus taught with authority, unlike the scribes.  In the synagogue was a man who had an unclean spirit.  When the man saw Jesus, the unclean spirit within him cried out asking Jesus what His purpose was.  Immediately, this unclean spirit had recognized Jesus as the “Holy One.”

Jesus rebuked the spirit and instructed it to be come out of the man and the spirit instantly obeyed.  All who witnessed this event were amazed at Jesus’ power to heal and his ability to release unclean spirits.  Immediately, word began to spread of Jesus’ wondrous powers.  His fame spread throughout all of Judea.

Mark does not say that the witnesses of the healing believed in Jesus.   Yes, they were astonished by his power to heal, but did they listen to His Word?  Did they recognize Him as the “Christ?”  Did they decide to follow Jesus or did they simply listen and then go home and talk about Him?  Did thoughts of Jesus and His preaching stay with them or did they simply go back to their daily routine?

Do we truly recognize Jesus as the Christ?  Do we know Jesus personally?  Do we have a relationship with Him or is He simply a figure in the Gospels?  Jesus is at work in our lives, though most likely not in as dramatic a way as was depicted in this passage.  Jesus is healing us even if we don’t see it.  Jesus is gracing us with all we need.  Today may we look for Jesus as we move through our day.  Jesus is with us!